Method of making steering wheels



y 1932 B. BRONSON ET AL 1,369,334

METHOD OF MAKING STEERING WHEELS Filed March 18, 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 1gy W. WM M' MMv/ZJ g y 1932- B. BRONSON ET AL 1,869,334

METHOD OF MAKING STEERING WHEELS Filed March 18, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2EMMAW W 71M MM+W L I y 1932- BQBRONSON ET AL METHOD OF MAKING STEERINGWHEELS Filed March 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 26, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' OHIO RUBBER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIOIMIEELHOI) OF MAKING STEERING WHEELS Application filed March 18, 1930.Serial No. 436,717.

I This invention relates to steering wheels and more particularly to thetype comprising a metal insert having a hub, spokes and IlIIl, in whichthe greater part of the metal insert is coveredfwith plasticcomposition, preferably rubber. I

It is anobject of the present invention to providea method ofconstructing the sheet metal insert from a tubular blank so that thehub, spokes and rim are respectively integral with each other. 7

'It' is another object of the invention to provide an insert of thischaracter which may be constructed from a tubular sheet metal blank.without leaving substantially any scrap, metal.

Further objects are to provide an insert and methods of constructing thesame whereby the insert will be simple and economical in construction,having adequate strength and otherwise well adapted for the purposessetforth. v o

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent as the followingdescription pro-,

ceeds, as taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of the completed insert for the steering wheelaccording to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a diagrammaticview illustrating the steps in the method of forming asheet metal blank into a cup-like or tubular'form.

Fig. 4 is a section throughthe blank, after the same has been upset andcut so that it maybe expanded to form the insert. v

Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modifiedconstruction for the lower portion thereof. I

Fig.6 is a development of thesurface of the tubular member shown in Fig.4. V

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof the blank shown in Fig.4, after the spokeand rim portions have been spread or expanded.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the structure shown in Fig. 7 showingstill further expansion of the parts.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the completed insert formed from thetubular blank. Fig. 10 is a detail perspe'ctiveview showing the foldingof the metal at the mid-point of the rim, and

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the folding of the metal at thejunction of the rim and spokes."

Referring more particularlyto the drawings, the insert comprises ahub'lO, a rim 11 and spokes 12, 13, 14 and 15, fourbeing shown,

.BUDD BRONSON AND EDWARD R. MARBACH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .ASSIGNORS TOTHE A but a greater or lesser number' may befprovided if desired.Between the hub and spokes a cup-like portion is provided, comprising adisc-like bottom portion 16 anda cylindrical side wall 17,. Anannularifiange 18 projects radially from ltheupper edge of the portion17,-fo'rminga strengthening web 1 2 extending between the spokes. Thespokes are further strengthened by forming a groove 19 extendinglongitudinally thereof, and it is obvious that anyother corrugation maybe employed and that the rim 11 may be similarly, treated to strengthenthe same.

While the rim'll is a single continuous integral member, it comprises aplurality of rim portions 20, projecting inone direction from the end ofeach of the'spokes, and a series of rim portions 21, projectingin theopposite direction from the ends of eachof the spokes. The metal of therim is doubly folded about a portion 22, at the mid-point of the rimsection between adjacent spokes, and at the junction of the portions20and 21. The metal of the insert is also doubly folded as at 23, at thejunction of each rim portion 20 and its associated spoke A similarportion double fold occursv between the. rim

21 and the associated spoke.

The remaining features :of the insert will be best understood from thefollowing description of'the method'of constructing the same. The insertis developed from a tube, which may be a section of a seamless or weldedtube, or may be constructed from a fiatpiece of sheet metal. s 1

Referring now to Fig. '3, thefirst position shown is that of a flatsheet metal blank 25 which may be rectangular or circular as de-' sired,it being obvious that if'the blank is wwi , rectangular, the cornersthereof may be e ef the la k eing d 'e ieel, with the e ,ShQWE} trimmedoff initially, or ata later stage in the method. The blank is drawnthrough a die to form a cup-shaped member 26.

Further drawing steps progressively form the lank. int the le t le t etrmembers 27, 28, 29. and 30. p The member- 29 m slightly flared outwardlyas at 31, and the member is still further flared outwardly as etc 2, hflare be ng lone a mooth. curv Qt The ibottom.lo fcomparatively largeradius; the member 30 is then cut or pierced to form an aperture, and itwillbeobvious that'th'ese operations result in a blank which is'sul =1stantially identical with a section of tubing,

thickness, th el etruetie b ng etfret w in-F -c Th p. p r i n s n l st'et at 3.3 e d h h b .P i n 3 n Whi h the meter i b t eme hi kee es he ree Ofh bla k, t e e ng pe t eil in F 4. J

V The" ble k'ie as e e p' mit' the w t xpe d d and te m t e sh'ekes andr mof continuous integral metal] Accordingly a plurality of verticalcuts. 36 are t e tubular b e'nk, end-W i e ey ef @ll fi an 8' a te m determ dietethe"ei te' 5,6 the e t eti' s rewith-i l i-f f eet th eu e 3pr i e fr m eneee ge wer l' he 'etliee h e the te 38 ere peei ely eireeed- I eliee el e-r etee t et the uite e eiid. 3'

e are etineeu e ng eene t y, i lle Ye ee 'P rt en 9, t the ei t- C T e,t may be termed. .i he ttbu et lank in ey tle d'meneer- For ieeteeee;

a. the cuts 36 may he saw kerfs extending from thefier lc dge .2 th reeer er e th engt efithe tu e, u erm ae in hor ef a he oth r e het t Thee1 t 3 +38 39 'may' be sheared,a nd tof preyent tearing of em telthe anki 'pref rebly fir t dri t t & e d, 4 t1 leee i o thes l t d l el eingip-e tmiee l et be e ema P ints ftll t Q 'e u the til -1 may be shearedalso if desired, in which, case d illed h e r ll be termed xt e ime?fidle thereof to avoid tearing same manner-L When formed as abovedescribed the cuts 37-3 9. "er el e ne e i ecl te m shaped cutssurrounding theflower ends of the respective cuts36, I

outwardly at the-bottom thereof.

'10, while the folds at'2'3' and 24' ire exag r 's e e by the -terms Figlrli the e ew When the blank is cut as above described, the metalbetween the cuts 37 and 38 will form the spoke portions 12, 13, 14 and15. The metal surrounding the cuts 36 will form the rim portions 20 and21, the two together te mite e im e e Wh eh W ll be s- Jl e eae hil heet te re t se lying between adj'acentcuts 36 will be designated as 44.

liteierring tel Sisal, nes l d that th opera-ties aespesdineth bularblank is to spread the portions 44, which effectsa wi'dening'fi otgthecuts 36. Preferably at the same time the portions 43 are spread ThisSpre l ng en xpend sg f the, blank: Pr ebly takes Plee'e imu teeeeaelrme ta eftl ie ep tetie'n being-there e1 I vtl be ueeeree ee that thelleetxi i ne ef Eig 7 tee ti e mewhet fanciful, portions thereofb'einggera ted and d et tt e he rurp e .of these, ie bein tee sh w. the preeree. er r t elf the m al ring thee-expanses ileet et W at F gs 72M118Willlee m rely fk gih e tions during this operation; the'spr its ne d nettek Pl ee eimultai ly; h 'eplr ed ee i he Pe, i;en e. 4. 5 W1 e t PQI iIiI 4' m y take Phee. c ire eeqe'enee-v v At somenterniediate stage inth'e formaie e th et e te e heW tEigetlle ll-eire'in'l igf fitt.

lie it 'et h ten ielly he 'm pla e I ures eing else In re y terthpurreee el h w g he Pr ress it i t e m tal. delete the folding 'p et li'Detted lines; are met et elp tl igy 6. test-7 .0w thelin e 45 end 46fel ns h fiel n ek Pleee 'ebeut the portion 22." .ll QIH E ,9 it"will beV vious that th e fold at'45 will be in thelop;

Peeite dir eti e th felel 4 e-t ett rim portion 21 may ultimately lieete elly' the ewe Platele s th rim-Petti 20- Dot e i e e e e q h wnQeEie. ,6

to indicate the folds at 23 and 24, and; s p;

p em nt y fe e are it di et l at ndl T ed ere a n. ngle to eeehe be ethat the rim rer' ieeegaw '2 be b u h n p si ion; i tee; se s p e e. eee y ee t b$t n el -.!ight gleelte e spoke with which they integrgah YAfterthe me al ee-sheen fold d a ebe tl scribed, the insert may be, putinto' ,.a press so at e b er? blew my b s r ck at t lite fiett n te eemeh e P eible.

Without w akeni g th em L At. e e. iat me e e tese Q? the Pte e t e eien 4 eemrxi ns h im pertiete 20 and 21 Will be bent intoa2 circ lag themember 58 comprises a radial flange 60 which underlies the flange 18 andportions of the spokes, and extends up around and overlies the top ofthe same. This construction forms segmental strips 61 overlying theflange 18, and flange extensions 62 overlying the inner portions of thespokes, with their edges meeting at the lines 63. In this manner thedecorative finish at the hub and cup portion is provided without anyriveting or welding. It is obvious that the preferred embodiment of theinsert developed from the blank shown in Fig. 4 will have all of itsparts integrally connected so that no joining of any character isnecessary and also no scrap metal need be wasted.

While several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed in such detail as to enable anyone skilled in the art topractice the invention, nevertheless the invention is not to be limitedto any of the details disclosed other than as necessitated by thedevelopment of the prior art, but instead includes such embodiments ofthe broad idea as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims, itbeing obvious that various changes and modifications may be resorted towithout departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A sheet metal blank of the characterdescribed, comprising a tubularmember having cuts therein dividing the same into spoke portions, rimportions and a hub portion; said cuts terminating within the confines ofsaid blank, leaving said spoke portions integral wi h said hub portion,and said rim portions integral with said spoke portions, said rimportions being located between said spoke portions.

2. A sheet metal blank of the character descr bed, comprising a hubportion, spoke portions projecting from one edge of said hub portion,and rim portions projecting reversely from the ends of said spokeportions and lying therebetween.

3. A sheet metal blank for forming a steering wheel insert having cutsextending from one end toward the other, but terminating short thereof,and substantially U-shaped cuts surrounding the first mentioned cuts andterminating short of the end from which the first mentioned cuts extend.

4. A method of forming an article of the character'described, whichcomprises form'- ing cuts in a tubular sheet metal blank from one edgetoward the other, but terminating,

short thereof, forming substantially U-shaped cuts surrounding the firstmentioned cuts, and expanding said blank to form a continuous element ofthe material of said blank on each side of thefirst mentioned'cuts.

5. A method of forming'an article of the character described, whichcomprises forming. cuts in a tubular sheet metal blank from one edgetowardthe other, forming substan tially U-sh'apedcuts surrounding thefirst mentioned cuts, and expand ng sazd blank to form a continuouselement of the material on h each side of the first mentioned cuts, andto form said continuous elementintegral with strips "remaining betweenadjacent pairs of said second mentioned cuts.

6. A method of forming an articleof the character described, whichcomprises shear: ing a sheet metal blank between portions thereofadapted to form spoke portions and rim portions, and expanding saidblank to spread said spoke portions and suspend said rim portionsbetween the ends of adjacent spoke portions.

7. The method of forming av sheet metal blank for a steering wheelinsert, which com-V prises cutting said blank to form spaced spokeportions, and cutting the metal between said spoke portions to form rimportions, but leaving the adjacent ends of said rim portions integralwith the ends of said spokeportions. p

8. The method of forming a steeringwheel insert, which comprises cuttinga tube to form spoke portions and rim portions, and spreading one end ofsaid tube to'separate the ends of said spoke portions and folding saidrim portions to form a continuous integral rim.

9. The method of forming a steering wheel insert which comprises formingprimary partial cuts in a tubular sheet metal blank from therefrom anysubstantial areas thereof,

forming secondary partial cuts extending parallel to the first mentionedcuts and around one end thereof, expanding said tube, and folding theportions between said primary and secondary partial cuts to formacontinuous rim.

10. The method of forming a sheet metal insert for a steering wheel,which comprises' cutting a tube to divide the same into as many portionsas there are spokes in the finished wheel, further cutting each of saidportions to divide the same into spoke portions and rim portionsintegral with the ends thereof, bending down'said spoke portions, and

forcing said rim portions outwardly to form a continuous integralelement.

11. The method of forming a sheet metal insert for a steering wheel,which comprises 1 1 cutting a tube to divide the sa'me'into as many iwrtn as her 'are poke in t fi i hed heel further cutting each ofsaidiportion s to divide the same into spoke portions end rim portionsintegral With the ends thereof, bending down said spoke portions,forcing said riin portions outwardly to form a col-1T tinu o-n sintegral element, and folding and bending said element to form acircularrim, 12. The1nethod of forming a contlnnous 1 metal insert for asteering heel, which consists in cutting spaced slots in a tube, cuttingother slots extending around the inner ends of said first mentionedslots, and expanding said tube. w

In testimony whereof, We hereunto aifiz; our

signatures.

BUDD BRONSQN. R MABBAQH-V

